Improvement in grain-meters



R. H. BDMISTON.

GfraLin-Meters.

Nf0214,63.5`. Patented April 22, 1879..

\ INVENTOR: YZ/hbaw' C Illllullll WITNESSES i ATTORNBYS-- N. PETERS. FHOTOwLlTNOGHAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE ROBERT H. EDMISTON, OF LOVELAND, COLORADO.V

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-METERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,635, dated April 22, 1879; application tiled September 30, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. EDMrsToN, of Loveland, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Grain-Meter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for automatically measuring and discharging grain that is run through the apparatus from any source of supply, and is particularly intended foruse in connection with thrashing-machines, to measure the grain as it is delivered from the thrasher.

My invention consists in a bin or hopper divided by a central partition into two compartments, each of which is provided with a delivery-opening and swinging gate to close the same. Combined with the bin is aninner hopper, opening into both compartments, and having an oscillating gate, that is operated by the overplus of grain when one bin is full, to turn the feed-spout and cause the grain to run into the empty bin, and at the same time the delivery-opening of the empty bin is closed and that of the full bin opened.

1n the-accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionon the line x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line y y of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the hopper on the line z z of Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

a represents a bin of rectangular shape, th at is to be placed in a convenient position for receiving and deliveringthe grain. It is divided by a central cross-partition, b, into two compartments, al a2, of equal size. The bottom of each compartment al c2 is inclined or hopperh are inclined boards in the spaces el c2, from the edge of the openings g g' to the upper' edge of the hopper e, the said boards lh h being` inclined in opposite directions. t" is an openin g in the partition f, beneath; the board h, and t' is a second opening in f, beneath the board h.

k is a gate,A fitted upon central pivots, l, in the bottom part of hopper c, so as to oscillate in the space beneath the inclined boards h. The axis or pivot Z of the gate 7c extends through the side of the hopper e, and through a slot, m, in the side of bin a, and carries a crankarm, u, the crank-pin of which is within a slot, 0, of one arm of the threearmed lever p. This lever p is fulcrumed on the side of bin a at q, and its other two arms are connected, respectively, by the links r fr with the gates d of the delivery-openings c c.

The feed-spout s is hung above the hopper e in standards t by pivots au, so that the spout s may oscillate from side to side and deliver the grain into either of the compartments e162. u is a lever fulcrumed ato on the side of hopper c, one end of which lever is connected to the spout s, and, the other end connects with the crank-arm n on the axis of gate It. The connections described cause the spout s, gate k, and gates d to move together and in unison, so that they operate as next described.

The spouts being in position to feed the grain to the compartment cl ofthe hopper @,it runs freely, by the opening g, to the compartment al of bin a, where it is retained, as the gate d of that part is closed. As soon as the bin al is full up to the bottom of hopper c, the grain will iill the opening g, and pile up 011 the board h until it runs through the opening t" and falls upon the highest end of gate k, where the grain accumulates until there is sufficient weight to bear down that end of gate k and elevate the opposite end. The grain that has collected upon the gate k can then run into the bin a2, and the motion of the gate lo acts, by the connections described, to shift the spouts so that it shall discharge into the hopper e2, and also opensgate d of bin al and closes gate d of bin a". This action will be repeated as often as the bins c1 a2 are filled.

The hopper c is retained in place by the partition b, which enters slots in the sides of e; and if it is desired to make the bins al a2 of greater capacity, additional boards may be placed on the upper edge of partition l), and

the hopper e then secured to theboards. By that means a larger quantity of grain will be measured at each lilling.

The capacity of the bins being known, the

total quantity of grain passing through thev machine can be ascertained by keeping an ac count of the discharges. Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- l. rlhe combination of the hopper e, having the two compartments el e2, and provided with the gate 7c, oscillating upon a central pivot, l, in the space beneath the inclined boards h of the said compartments, with the two oompartments a1 a2 of the bin a, substantially as and for the purpose described.

ROBERT H. EDMISTON.

'Witnesses G. W. KRoUsKoP, y W. A. SKILEs. 

